Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-08
THE MINERAL CABINET.
A Local Matter with No Politics in It
The Assembly Asked to Reconsider.

A Local Matter with No Politics in It
The Assembly Asked to Reconsider.
By but three votes the bill to make the
city Of Sacramento custodian of the min
eral cabinet now in the Capitol, was de-
feated in the Assembly yesterday. This is
very much to be regretted. 1t is unques-
tionably due to the fact that the members
have not been fully informed of the facts.
A motion to reconsider has been made.
The cabinet occupies room needed for the
State Library, and hence the request for
its removal. Two years ago Mrs. E. B.
Croker presented to the city of Sacra-
mento magnificent building, and in it an
exceedingly valuable collection of fine
paintings, the whole valued at $500 900. |
The building is fire and burglar-proof 1t is
under constant watch day and night. 1t is
one of the finest structures in the State, if
not in the entire country. The city has in
charge of the building custodian, and the
California Museum Association, corpora
ton, has there also a Secretary, janitors
and other employees. The association
named, which acts with the city in caring
for the building, has Board of Trustees,
embracing such men as Ex-Governor New
ton Booth, ex-Mayor Christopher Green,
Joseph Steff,ens, President of the Board of
Trade; ]. w. Armstrong, Superior Judge
E. c, Grunsky, of the State Engineers
office; d. Lubin and F. E. Ray, merchants
DIR. George Pyburn and others. The Asso-
citation numbers among its members some
OF the leading citizens of San Francisco
and Sacramento-more members living in
the first than in the latter city. Their aim
is to build UP at the capital museum of
the natural history of the country,
and encourage study in designing, and a
school of 60 pupils is now conducted by
them. They are endeavoring to gather in
the building also exhibits of our products,
soils, mineralogy, the flora, fauna, ETC., of
the State. They maintain courses of lect-
ures and otherwise contribute to the gen.
eral cultivation of the public mind It is
contemplated in due course to lay the
foundation of scientific and art library
and laboratory. The building referred to
is far more elegantly finished than the
Capitol, and the cabinet could have no.
where more fitting shrine. 1t is con-
trolled and maintained by the city, the
Mayor being President of the Board of
Control. The City Trustees recently pre-
sented petition to the Legislature asking
that the mineral cabinet be left in Sacra-
mento and intrusted to its control, to be
exhibited in the building described They
set forth that last year over 5000 people |
from the Eastern States visited the gallery,
and had the cabinet been in it all would have |
had an opportunity to see it. In the city's |
custody it would be as safe as in the Cap
itol. The Librarian cannot give the time
from his duties to attend to it {; but in the |
Art Gallery it would be under the constant
care of competent persons, chosen by the |
city. The State Mining Bureau has in San
Francisco large collection, and to merge
this one with it will not much benefit it,
and will involve the State in cost for its re-
moval. To leave it here, however, Will be
to have two exhibits in the State of min
erals at two distinct points, and thus far
more people will see it. Since January
LIST nearly 1000 Eastern excursionists and
strangers have visited the gallery, more by
far than have examined the exhibit at San
Francisco. The State University has good
collection, constantly augmenting, and
does not, say its officers, desire this one.
The gentleman who made the Capitol col
lection, DR.. Jos. NJ. Frey, of Newcastle,
writes, urging that the cabinet be not re-
moved from Sacramento, and pointing out
how, with the Museum Associations work
progressing, this cabinet can be made here
more useful to the people. That the bill
was defeated yesterday is the more singu-
lar, since the other day the House, with
scarcely any objection, amended the origi-
nal bill, so as to place the collection in the
custody of the city. The State Mining
Bureau is supported directly by the State,
is now asking for sum of money, and the
people have agreed that it is right thing
to maintain it. For this cabinet no money
support is asked, not even a dollar to pay
for its removal 1t is only asked that this
last remnant of anything the State
has to show at the Capital City,
outside of its library, be left here,
and to that end the city offers to take and
care for the cabinet and expose it to view
every day in the year to people visiting the |
Capital. DR.. Frey says catalogue of the |
collection exists, and thus an inventory |
can be taken of it on making the change. |
The Museum Association has voted to aid |
the city in care of the cabinet if placed in |
the building, and cluster its own collection |
about tlbut the Association has not, further |
than to appoint committee to represent !
the facts, made itself prominent in the |
matter, holding that it should not use any |
solicitation with members other than to |
suggest the eminent propriety of acceding |
to the petition of the city, as the members |
believe that by so doing the greatest good |
will be done to the greatest number and |
our mineral resources thus by sample ex-
posed to the examination of more people |
than if gathered in a single place. The |
Association only yesterday received from |
minerologist in Pennsylvania a letter |
announcing that his visit to the
gallery last year SO pleased him
self and friends, that they have
collected and sent to the association for its |
collection an entire line of exhibits show
ing the anthracite coal flora of the Atlantic |
slope. This simple testimony is but one of
the benefits of maintaining, as the city and !
association do the exhibition referred to. |
1t is to be hoped the Assembly will change |
its mind and leave the cabinet in this city. |
1t is a matter devoid of any other interest |
than desire on the part of Sacramentans |
to do honor to the State in the eyes of visit
ors to the Capital city. If the committee
appointed by the association to present the |
matter to the Legislature had been more
urgent, it is probable the bill would have
passed yesterday. They have probably not
thought it necessary to now even supple
ment the very clear and strong petition of
the City Trustees.
The matter will come up on reconsidera-
ton this morning and the committee of
the Museum Association might do well to
be present to inform the House on any
point it may desire.
"A IUoodlooJ xaStardav tho caSes of Har-